What are We Supposed to Do with Leviticus?
Leviticus is a hard read, right?
Opening a book with various types of offerings, sacrifices, ordination rituals, priesthood lineage lines, cleanliness regulations, disease care, bodily discharges, and yearly festivals – all to be followed with precise precision and distinct discipline in hopes of divine blessing bestowed upon by God. Not only that, but within all these happenings, we read of graphic images involving blood splattering, childbirth, scabs, boils, pus, carcass burning, and death (just to name a few). At first glance, these circumstances seem far removed from the 21st-century reality we know.
Yet, Timothy 3:16 (NIV) reminds us, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” So, what can we read here that better prepares us? What can we learn about God’s character from this seemingly unrelatable, hard-to-follow, distant book? These questions had me digging deep into commentaries throughout my faith journey to better understand the true beauty behind these words.
First, it’s important to acknowledge that there are 3 types of laws in Leviticus to read the language through the lens of:
Ceremonial Law: Given to the nation of Israel for a specific purpose – to separate them from their Gentile neighbors. They were enacted for the Israelites at this specific time, specifically for them.
Civil Law: Also given to the nation of Israel for a specific purpose – aiding in managing the civil affairs of people.
Moral Law: Follows the way God created our world to function – past, present, and future. Timeless. (1)
I know looking at these words and definitions can feel textbook-y and just generally outside of how we operate in our daily lives. And, I recognize Leviticus has a reputation for this. The most criticism I hear about the Bible, personally and publicly, is usually focused here:
“If you really believe in the Bible, you can’t wear mixed fabrics, eat certain meats, or get your ears pierced. That’s a sin!”
“The Bible is just a book of laws that you have to follow for God to like you!”
“Who are you to tell me what’s best for me when you don’t follow every single thing the Bible demands?”
Still, what stands out to me most is God’s genuine care in every part of our lives that we see in this same book. What comes across as guardrails is actually protection.
Leviticus 11 speaks of unclean aquatic animals that the Israelites were prohibited from eating – did you know the types of fish mentioned were scavengers that carried parasites? (2)
Leviticus 12 speaks of Jewish boys being circumcised 8 days after their birth – did you know that Jewish women with circumcised husbands have a remarkably low rate of cervical cancer? (3)
Leviticus 13 speaks of skin diseases that often resulted in the ousting of a community member – did you know this separation was done to stop the spread of contagious diseases that would have greatly impacted those living in such close quarters? (4)
And the list goes on. God’s heart here is so obvious. Somewhere across this God-breathed narrative, wisdom meant for safekeeping has been misconstrued into rules that bind.
Not to mention, all the offerings and their purposes that point to Jesus along the way –
The Burnt Offering: Means of total surrender to God.
The Grain Offering: Means of gratitude and worship to God.
The Fellowship Offering: Means of holiness in response to God.
The Sin Offering: Means of reconciliation in relationship to God.
The Guilt Offering: Means of peace and harmony with God. (5)
The point of Leviticus is not a curated list of laws for people trying to be good enough. We cannot follow all these laws, and we were never meant to do so. The Israelites showed us again and again and again (and again) how hard living these disciplines out to satisfy God was. They never got it right. Leviticus simply shows us the true cost Jesus paid and our hopelessness without Him. It shows us how being left to our own morality and judgment digs us into a deep hole we cannot unbury ourselves from.
It’s the ultimate set-up for Jesus, who satisfied every single one of these laws and offerings with Himself.
He has done it all. We simply need to believe and rest in that truth. We never need to “try harder”, “do better,” or “focus more” in these areas to fix our relationship with God or be equipped enough. We can’t ever get there. These ideas are rooted in self-satisfaction that discredits Jesus’ work on the cross altogether. And thank God for that. It is finished, indeed.
Sincerely,
A Christ-Follower with a Cross Tattoo on Her Wrist
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